Garden of Bones

Synopsis: Joffrey punishes Sansa for Robb's victories, while Tyrion and Bronn scramble to temper the king's cruelty. Catelyn entreats Stannis and Renly to forego their ambitions and unite against the Lannisters. Dany and her exhausted khalasar arrive at the gates of Qarth, a prosperous city with strong walls and rulers who greet her outside them. Tyrion coerces a queen's man into being his eyes and ears. Arya and Gendry are taken to Harrenhal, where their lives rest in the hands of "The Mountain," Gregor Clegane. Davos must revert to his old ways and smuggle Melisandre into a secret cove.

Robb Stark ambushes a Lannister army in the night, utterly destroying it. In the aftermath, Robb Stark and his bannerman Lord Roose Bolton disucss the war and torture of the prisoners. Robb, sharing his father’s sense of honor and sympathy, does not wish for torture and also fears for the safety of his captive sisters. He assists in the amputation of a Lannister soldier’s leg with Talisa, a medic. Talisa tells Robb she blaims him for the death and suffering, and Robb seems impressed and attracted to her.

In King’s LandingJoffrey considers shooting Sansa with a crossbow for her brother’s recent victories. Instead, he orders Ser Meryn Trant to beat her and disrobe her, which he does in front of the entire court. Tyrion interrupts the beating, insulting Joffrey, and escorts Sansa out to safety. Bronn suggests Joffrey may be “backed up”, so Tyrion presents him with Ros and Daisy, whores from Littlefinger’s brothel. However, Joffrey does not react as expected and forces Ros to horribly abuse Daisy.

Littlefinger has journeyed to The Stormlands to treat with Renly Baratheon to save his own head and possibly aid Renly in the eventuality Renly wins the war. Littlefinger attempts to poke holes in the interesting marriage of Margaery Tyrell and Renly Baratheon, including Renly's sexuality, but Margaery states she is loyal to her husband, who is her king. Later, Littlefinger meets Catelyn Stark, attempting to deal with the fallout of his betrayal of Ned. Catelyn in a rage draws a dagger on him, but Littlefinger calms her with words of her daughters being healthy and safe. For Jaime Lannister, he offers an exchange of her daughters. He also brought a gift from Tyrion Lannister, Ned’s remains.

Back across the Narrow Sea, one of Daenerys Targaryen’s riders returns with word of Qarth receiving the khalasar, three days to the east. Arriving at the gates of Qarth, she is received by the leaders of Qarth, The Thirteen. They refuse her entry until one member Xaro Xhoan Daxos vouches for her, placing his own well-being at stake, offering the hospitality of his home. Xaro was impressed at her ferocity and sees an opportunity for power.

Arya Stark, Gendry, Hot Pie and the other prisoners arrive in the enormous castle of Harrenhal, believed to be cursed and ruined by dragon fire during the wars of Aegon the Conqueror. They are led inside the Lannister encampment, where The Mountain is having The Tickler brutally torture prisoners for information daily. That night Arya Stark begins her litany of names of those she wishes dead, including Joffrey, Cersei, The Hound, and Illyn Payne. Gendry seems next to be tortured and killed, but Lord Tywin Lannister arrives, saves him and puts everyone to work as serving staff. He recognizes instantly Arya is not a boy and commissions her as his new personal cupbearer.

Stannis Baratheon and Renly Baratheon meet outside of Storm’s End, but while Renly mocks him, Stannis rigidly refuses to negotiate his own right to the throne. Catelyn chastises them for forgetting their bonds of blood, but the negotiations end with an ultimatum delivered by Stannis. Renly must bend the knee come the dawn of the next day or they are enemies.

Back in King’s Landing Ser Lancel Lannister brings word late at night to Tyrion that Cersei has commanded Grandmaester Pycelle be released from the black cells. Tyrion eventually agrees, but cleverly discerns that Lancel is sharing the bed of his sister while Jaime is captive. He manipulates and blackmails Lancel into obeying him, doing Tyrion's bidding to inform Tyrion of everything Cersei is doing.

Davos Seaworth reaffirms his loyalty for Stannis and his sense of morality. Stannis cut off four fingers of Davos Seaworth for being a smuggler, but rewarded him with lands and titles for relieving the starvation at Storm’s End during Robert’s Rebellion. Davos is reluctantly commissioned to smuggle once more, taking Lady Melisandre beneath the walls of Storm’s End during the night. When they go far enough, Melisandre reveals a swollen pregnant belly. She gives birth to a monstrous shadowy man-shaped apparition which disappears into the depths of Storm’s End.

Check out IGN's review of "Garden of Bones" here...

Let's all welcome both Harrenhal and Qarth to the ever-growing opening credits world map. And while we're at it, let's also welcome them to probably the most f***ed up Game of Thrones episode yet. "Garden of Bones" was a ferocious treat, overloaded with misery, torture and a total...[more]